Rearview mirror



J. W. ANDERSON, JR

Aug. 24, 1948.

REAR VIEW MIRROR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26; 1946 IN VEN TOR. 7 n4 flfldfrsarz -77."

1948- J. w. ANDERSON, JR 2,447,786

REAR VIEW M IRROR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1946 INVENTOR. 7766 flfldcrlio/z T)".

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Patented Aug. 24, 1948 REARVIEW MIRROR James W. Anderson,

Jr., Detroit, Mich, assignor to Monarch Governor Company, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Michigan Application January 26, 1946, Serial No. 643,684

This invention relates to an improved outside mirror assembly particularly useful on automobiles or other motor vehicles. The invention is especially applicable to an outside mirror assembly attachable to the front upright flanged edge of a door or to the upright flanged edge of a vehicle hood, cowl or body adjacent the front of the door.

It is'an object of the invention to provide an improved rear vision mirror having a base element attachable to the front upright flanged edge of a vehicle door and having an integrally formed member which rests tightly against the surface of the hood, cowl or body of the vehicle adjacent the front edge of the door when the door is in a closed position, thus ensuring a more rigid and dependable support for the mirror assembly when it is mounted on the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outside mirror assembly having a base or clamping plate attachable to the upright flanged edge of a vehicle hood, cowl or body adjacent the front edge of the vehicle door and having an integrally formed projecting tongue or lip which is adapted to rest tightly against the outer surface of the door panel when the door is in closed position. This construction lends itself to the type of vehicle body construction having a door and a door pillar provided with a concealed type of hinge and a front door edge which swings inwardly into a recess between the hinge and door pillar when the door is open.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rear view mirror of economical and useful construction and which by a simple rearrangement of parts or reversal of its base or clamping member may easily be installed either on the front upright flanged edge of a vehicle door or to the upright flanged edge of a vehicle hood, cowl or body adjacent the front edge of the door.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automobile body equipped with an outside rear view mirror constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

F g- 3 is a wim ta n substantiall through 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-226) 2 lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation view of the mirror assembly as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the mirror assembly shown in Fig. 3 but mounted on the hood or cowl portion of a vehicle.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the base or clamp member reversed.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig.5 illustrating the door of the vehicle body in open position.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the in vention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to the drawings I have illustrated, by way of example, certain embodiments of the present invention. The outside rear view mirror illustrated in Figs. 1 through a is adapted to be mounted on the flange edge of the front door ID of an automobile body H, the door being hinged in the usual manner at l2 to a pillar or post I3' of the body. This pillar is rabbeted or recessed at M to receive the overlap flange iii of the door and which extends along the front upright edge thereof.

The mirror assembly comprises a silvered glass or equivalent reflector I8 which is encased within and retained by a metallic backing or shell l1. The shell I! is fixed to the outer end of a supporting arm l9 by pivotal means, such as a ball and socket joint, so that the position of the reflecting surface is rendered adjustable. The arm I9 terminates at its inner end in an elongated suitably contoured base |9a which is provided with a centrally positioned blind threaded aperture or tapped hole 20. Also at its inner end the arm I5 is provided with a pair of integrally formed projecting dowels or keying lugs 2i and 22 which are spaced equidistant from and in alignment with the aperture 20.

The mirror assembly also comprises a base or clamping plate 23 which is attachable to the base 190. of the mirror supporting arm IS. The clamping plate 23 acts as a bearing member interposed between the mirror supporting arm and thedoor panel and body of an automobile. The clamping plate 23 may be of any desired size or design although preferably having a surface of greater area than the surface of the inner end of the supporting arm IS.

The end of the plate 2 3 is formed with a re turn bent flange 24 spaced from the back of the plate to provide a clamp adapted to be slid over the door overlap flange I 5 as shown in Fig. 3. The clamp is provided with tapped holes to receive set screws 30 by which it may be readily secured in position. The metal of the plate 23 at the locality of the bend is punched or lanced l out centrally to form a projecting tongue 25 ex=-.: y

tending in the plane of the plate beyond the clamp. The plate 23 is further provided with a pair of holes 26 and 27 which arespaced equi-' countersunk hole 28. which. is

distant from a centrally located in the plate 23. Since the distance between the holes 26 and .21 is equal to the distance between the keying lugs 2! and 22 on the base 49a it will be apparent thatwhen:

the countersunk hole 23 is registered with the tapped hole the lugs ,2land 22 will register with holes 26 and 27 when the plate 23 is posh tioned as shown inFigs. 3 and 4 or reversed as later described in connection-with Figs. 6 and 'l.

In attaching thep1ate23 to the innerend of the arm H) the keying lugs Hand 22 respectively are inserted through. the holes 2t and- 2'! respectively of the platev23. -The hole 23 of: the plate 23 being in register with threadedapertureZD of the supporting arm I9 is adapted torecei-ve screw 29 to securely hold the plate against the base 1 9a of the supporting arm l9. After mounting the assembly on thedoor the set screws 36 may be tightened againstthe inner surface of the door'overlap flange 15 in order to draw the clamping plate tightly'against the-door ID; a gasket 35 being interposed between ing plate and the outer surfaces of the door 10. The end of the base I9arests against the tongue at one side and when the door is in closed position the tongue its opposite side.

In Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive I have illustrated the manner in which the present mirror assembly, by

rearrangement'of the clamping plate on the baseof the mirror-arm or brackeumay housed in connection with an automobile bodyrhaving a door hinged edge thereof to swing inwardly. With a construction of this type it is not possible to mount the mirror on the edge of. the door. However; the present improved mirror assembly is so-constructed as to permit it to bemounted on the edge of the cowl or hood by merely reversing the position of the clamp without requiring any change or modification in the'constructionr Referring to Figs. 5 and'l, a door 19 is provided having an upright doorflange-Hand a front jamb edge. The door I6 is hinged-in a conventional manner by a concealed type of hinge arm 34 to a door pillar When-the door is in closed position the front edge 33 of the door rests the clamp- 25 overlaps the cowlpanel I3 at in suchmanner as to cause the front against a rubber insulation molding'36 interposed between the door the door 33. As-

pillar 35 and the inner-edge of shown in Fig. 7 it will be seenthat when the door is in open position the flange door pillar 35 andthe In the assembly of the mirror as shown in Fig. 6 the screw 29 may be loosened in the threaded aperture 20 and the hole 28 sufficiently to permit the withdrawal of the plate 24 from the keying lugs 2i and 22. The plate 24 may then be rotated on the screw 29 until the aperture 21 is in alignment with the lug 22 and the aperture 28in alignment with the lug 2|. By then tightening the screw 29 the plate 24 is held securely against the base we of the supporting arm l9.

Inmounting the mirror as shown in Fig. 7 upon the automobile body the flange 24 of the plate 23 embraces the upright flange 31 of the hood 36.

. Theset screws tllmay be tightened against the inner surface of. the flange 31 in order to draw the clamping plate 23 and attached mirror tightly against the outer surfaces of the hood 36 and the door Illa gasket 3| being interposed between the clamping plate and the outer surfaces of the hood and door. The end of the base l9a'rests against the tongue 25 at one side and whenthe door. is in closed position the tongue the outer surface of the door 10 at its Opposite side.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved rear View mirror of economicaL- and useful construction which by a simple reversal of parts may be conveniently installed either on the front upright edge of the automobile door or on the upright edge of the hood or'cowl. In

the arrangement as shown in Fig. 3 the tongue- 25 rests against the cowl or body. and assists in adequate bearing surface against both the'door and body panels to ensure able rear View mirror.

I claim:

1. A mirror assembly for a vehicle body. hav-i ing a body panel and a door panel terminating injuxtaposed uprightedges, a mirror supportingarm, a clamping member secured to the inner}. end of the arm and having a clamping portion." adapted to embrace one of said edges, saidmem her having a tongue projecting beyond the clamp- 7 ing portion in substantially theplane of the memher and adapted to overlie and engage the other of said edges when the door is closed.

2. A mirror assembly for a vehicle bodyhaving a body panel and a door panel'terminating'in juxtaposed upright edges, a mirror supporting arm, a clamping member having a or body panel, and means for detachably securing-said member to the inner end comprising elements for securing and keying the member to the arm.

3. A mirror assembly for a vehicle bodyhaving a body panel and a door panel terminating in Y juxtaposed upright edges, a mirror supporting:

arm, a clamping member having a clamping portion adapted to embrace the edge of the door or body panel, and means-for detachably securingsaid member to the innerend of the arm in either of two positions determined by turning themem-- her through an angle of 180, saidmeans comprising a pair of keying taching element located centrally therebetween; r.-

25 :overlaps i a sturdy and, depend.-

clamping 'portion adaptedto'embrace the edge of the door:

of the arm'in either of two positions determined by turning the member through an angle of 180, said means" projections on the arm 7 extending into holes in said member and an-at- 4. A mirror assembly for a vehicle body having a body member and a door provided with juxtaposed upright edges, a mirror supporting arm, a clamping member attached to the inner end of the arm and having a clamping portion adapted to embrace the edge of the door, said clamping member having a tongue projecting beyond the clamping portion in substantially the plane of the member and adapted to overlie and engage the edge of the body member adjacent the edge of the door when the door is closed, and means for detachably securing the clamping member to the inner end of the arm, said means comprising a pair of keying projections on the arm extending into holes in said member and 6 an attaching element located centrally therebetween.

The following references are of record in the JAMES W. ANDERSON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED file of this patent: 

